1953 Franklin Half Dollar
Get a rarer coin among the Franklin half dollar key dates with this 1953 Franklin half dollar. The series was minted between 1948 and 1963 at all three mints. This particular 1953 version was minted in Philadelphia in relatively low numbers. The lines of 1953 minted Franklins were weak, so attaining the 50 cent piece in superb condition with full bell lines – in reference to the Liberty Bell's rendering on the reverse – is more difficult. Its 90% silver content also makes this a popular collectible.
History
The Franklin half dollar series was a fresh take on the half dollars to that date. Most had featured an allegory Liberty figure while this coin depicted Benjamin Franklin, one of the U.S. founding fathers. Franklin himself, ironically, disliked the idea of portraits on coins but the U.S. Mint Director at the time, Nellie Tayloe Ross, reasoned the portrayal of a republican, rather than a monarch, would not have earned his disapproval. John R. Sinnock based the coin's designs on various existing artwork and while he died in 1947 before completing them, Gilroy Roberts was able to finish the job. The series was struck each year until 1963 when it was cut short by the murder of late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The Kennedy half dollar was then rushed through for minting.
Design specifics
In addition to the portrait of Franklin on the obverse ad the Liberty Bell on the reverse, the coin is topped with the text "Liberty" above Franklin's profile with the phrase "In God We Trust" embossed below it. On the reverse the Liberty Bell's crack is visible, and the U.S. motto "E pluribus unum" is on the left of the bell. A small eagle is also on the reverse to satisfy legal requirements.
1953 Franklin half dollar value and mintage
The Philadelphia-minted 1953 Ben Franklin half dollar can be worth around $30 or $4,000, depending on its condition. Its mintage is 2,668,120.
